When Fear of the Unknown Followed Me Around the World

One of my biggest goals this year was to travel more, and looking back, I can't believe how much of it actually happened. I've been all over the United States, and I've traveled to France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and Greece, with Israel as the last stop on my bucket list for this year. It's been one of the most meaningful years of my life, but I want to be honest with you about something that came along with it that I never expected.

Anxiety I Didn't See Coming

I've never really been someone who struggled with anxiety, but for some reason, when I started traveling, it just started happening. I would get stomach issues and feel anxious every time I traveled, and I honestly didn't know where it was coming from. It's funny how the enemy will try to take away the very thing you've been excited about, and that's exactly what it felt like was happening.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized it was probably a fear of the unknown. I was going to places I'd never been, where I didn't know the main language, didn't have control over much of anything, and was sometimes completely on my own. There was a lot of excitement about the unknown, but there was also a lot of fear, and it was a mix of both that I didn't know how to handle.

What Losing My Passport Taught Me

If you read my newsletter about losing my passport in Greece, you know that trip didn't exactly go my way. But here's the crazy part: that day actually helped me deal with my stress and anxiety more than anything else. When I got through it, I remember thinking, dang, if I can get through that, then everything else is going to be okay. Things went wrong, and God still had my back the entire time, and that's really what life is.

Then What Happens After That?

I've learned that a lot of the time, it helps to walk the fear all the way through. I'll ask myself, okay, if this happens, then what happens after that, and if that happens, then what happens after that? And every single time, my mind ends up in the same place. I still have a God who loves me, who died on the cross for me, and who has given me eternal life. I have a family who loves me and would take me in no matter what. So even if everything hits the fan, it's all going to be okay.

Paul says it so well in Romans 8,

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." – Romans 8:38–39

When you follow every worst-case scenario to the end, you find that the love of God is still standing at the bottom of it, and nothing can take that away.

Getting Out of My Comfort Zone

I'm really glad I chose to get out of my comfort zone this year, travel, and even be on my own sometimes. It's something I'm genuinely proud of, that I was able to get out of my shell and go to places where I had no control and didn't speak the language. Putting myself in situations where I didn't know everything ended up being one of the most transformative things I've done, because it forced me to trust God in ways I never had to before.

Before Joshua led Israel into a land they had never seen, God gave him this promise, and it's become one I hold onto every time I get on a plane,

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." – Joshua 1:9

Wherever you go, whether it's across the world or into a new job, a new city, or a new season you don't feel ready for, God is already there.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." – Philippians 4:6–7

Reflection Questions

1. Is there something you've been avoiding because of fear of the unknown?

2. When you walk your biggest worry all the way through, where does it end up?

3. What is one step out of your comfort zone that God might be inviting you to take?

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/inewsistock

Joe Navarro, known online as @joechristianguy, is a Christian content creator, entrepreneur, and cultural voice passionate about making faith approachable and impactful for the next generation. With over 4.5 million combined followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Joe delivers bold, Gospel-centered truth through a mix of daily encouragement, short-form teachings, comedic skits, and authentic life experiences. His unique blend of theology, humor, and clarity has created space for millions of young believers and skeptics alike to engage with Scripture and real conversations about following Jesus in a digital world. In 2023, he co-created the popular card game Discernment alongside Jacob and Julia Petersen, which is now available in major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Museum of the Bible, and Mardel. He also holds a degree in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Sales from Texas A&M.